What is Underwater Orienteering?

Underwater Orienteering is a sport where the swimmer uses modified scuba gear and navigates by use of compass, a course underwater at a depth of 1 to 3 m. The competitions are held in lakes, with visability sometimes reaching 0 feet. Competitors are equipped with a mask, fins or a monofin, scuba tank held in front of the body, a regulator, flow meter, compass, and bouy with a 3m rope to mark the participants progress. As the events are divers swimming solo, a support person in a boat or kayak usually follows the swimmers progress by using the bouy as a reference. The distances are premeasured by the organizers ahead of the tournament and the competitor must take the instructions with them under the water. They are not allowed to orient themselves from the surface.Competitors follow a course that is written down on their forearm or attached to their compass.

There are 3 basic types of individual competition: M course- where a competitor has to round a series of 3 bouys, usually in an M shape in a certain period of time; 5 point or finders: Where you have to find a series of 5 bouys in a certain order, usually by instigating a search pattern; and Star: Where a person has to round one, find one for five times in a row. There is also team competitions of 2 or 4 competitors. At no time are competitors allowed to surface or have their marker bouys go below the surface. There is points for accuracy & time.

World championships are held every 2 years with continental championships in the off year.

Photo from the Subaqua Club du Faucigny